title: Validation of two methods of long-term epidemiological follow-up.
abstract: Two methods of long-term epidemiological follow-up were compared by using each to study the survival of 1622 myocardial infarction patients registered by the Belfast MONICA Project. Length of follow-up ranged between 3 and 5 years during which time 277 deaths were recorded. A computer-based method for linking MONICA Project registration records with the Registrar General's death certification data identified 273 of the 277 deaths. Follow-up supplied by the Northern Ireland Central Services Agency through the flagging of patients in their master patient index identified 271 deaths; four of the six deaths which were missed occurred before computerisation of the index was complete. The study illustrates the value of computer-based linkage with death certification data and of flagging in the Central Services Agency master patient index.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Queen's University of Belfast, Royal Victoria Hospital.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: McCrum
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mathewson
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D003644:Death Certificates; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008498:Medical Record Linkage / Q000592:standards*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality*; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D015203:Reproducibility of Results